Portable container, container assembly, and accessories

Abstract

An accessory for use with a portable container includes a jacket configured to extend around at least a portion of the sidewall of the container, the jacket including a plurality of modular sections formed separately and connected together around the at least a portion of the sidewall of the container. The modular sections include a first modular section having extending around a first portion of the sidewall of the container, a second modular section connected to the first modular section and extending around a second portion of the sidewall of the container, and at least one additional modular section extending around a third portion of the sidewall of the container. The first and second modular sections have different structural configurations. The accessory also includes a first connection member connected to the jacket and configured to support the jacket in connection with the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An accessory for use with a portable container having a bottom and a sidewall extending upward from the bottom to define an internal cavity with a top opening, the accessory comprising:
 a jacket configured to extend around at least a portion of the sidewall of the container, the jacket comprising a plurality of modular sections formed separately and connected together around the at least a portion of the sidewall of the container, wherein the plurality of modular sections comprises:
 a first modular section having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and extending around a first portion of the sidewall of the container, the first modular section having a first structural configuration; 
 a second modular section having a third end connected to the first end of the first modular section and a fourth end opposite the third end, the second modular section extending around a second portion of the sidewall of the container and having a second structural configuration that is different from the first structural configuration; and 
 at least one additional modular section connected between the second end of the first modular section and the fourth end of the second modular section and extending around a third portion of the sidewall of the container; and 
 
 a first connection member connected to the jacket and configured to support the jacket in connection with the container; and
 wherein the plurality of modular sections are releasably connected together by releasable connecting structures, including a first releasable connecting structure between the first end of the first modular section and the third end of the second modular section. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the first structural configuration includes a first functional attachment, and the second structural configuration includes a second functional attachment that is different from the first functional attachment. 
     
     
       3. The accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the first functional attachment comprises a first storage member, and the second functional attachment comprises a second storage member that is configured differently from the first storage member. 
     
     
       4. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the second structural configuration is different from the first structural configuration by having at least one of different peripheral sizes and different peripheral shapes. 
     
     
       5. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket further comprises a base configured to extend around the at least a portion of the sidewall of the container, wherein the plurality of modular sections are further connected to the base. 
     
     
       6. The accessory of  claim 5 , wherein the base comprises a tubular wrap configured to extend around an entirety of the sidewall of the container and having a height measured between a top peripheral edge and a bottom peripheral edge thereof, wherein the plurality of modular sections have heights that are equal to or less than the height of the base, and the plurality of modular sections all have top and bottom edges that are contiguous with each other around an entire periphery of the base. 
     
     
       7. The accessory of  claim 5 , wherein the first connection member is connected to the base. 
     
     
       8. The accessory of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of connection members, including the first connection member, connected to the jacket and configured to support the jacket in connection with the container. 
     
     
       9. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection member includes a connector configured to engage a port on the container such that a portion of the connector is received through the port. 
     
     
       10. An accessory for use with a portable container having a bottom and a sidewall extending upward from the bottom to define an internal cavity with a top opening, the accessory comprising:
 a jacket configured to extend around at least a portion of the sidewall of the container, the jacket comprising a plurality of modular sections formed separately and connected together around the at least a portion of the sidewall of the container, wherein the plurality of modular sections comprises:
 a first modular section having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and extending around a first portion of the sidewall of the container, the first modular section having a first structural configuration; 
 a second modular section having a third end connected to the first end of the first modular section and a fourth end opposite the third end, the second modular section extending around a second portion of the sidewall of the container and having a second structural configuration that is different from the first structural configuration; and 
 at least one additional modular section connected between the second end of the first modular section and the fourth end of the second modular section and extending around a third portion of the sidewall of the container; and 
 
 a first connection member connected to the jacket and configured to support the jacket in connection with the container; and 
 wherein the first and second modular sections are arranged such that the first end of the first modular section overlaps or underlaps the third end of the second modular section. 
 
     
     
       11. An accessory for use with a portable container having a bottom and a sidewall extending upward from the bottom to define an internal cavity with a top opening, the accessory comprising:
 a jacket comprising a base configured to extend around at least a portion of the sidewall of the container and a plurality of modular sections formed separately and connected to the base, wherein the plurality of modular sections comprises:
 a first modular section connected to the base and extending around a first portion of the sidewall of the container, the first modular section having a first structural configuration; 
 a second modular section connected to the base and extending around a second portion of the sidewall of the container, the second modular section having a second structural configuration that is different from the first structural configuration; and 
 at least one additional modular section connected to the base and extending around a third portion of the sidewall of the container; and 
 
 a connection member connected to the base and configured to support the base in connection with the container, wherein the base supports the plurality of modular sections; and
 wherein the first and second modular sections are positioned adjacent to each other, and a left edge of the second modular section overlaps or underlaps a right edge of the first modular section. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the first structural configuration includes a first functional attachment, and the second structural configuration includes a second functional attachment that is different from the first functional attachment. 
     
     
       13. The accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the first functional attachment comprises a first storage member, and the second functional attachment comprises a second storage member that is configured differently from the first storage member. 
     
     
       14. The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the second structural configuration is different from the first structural configuration by having at least one of different peripheral sizes and different peripheral shapes. 
     
     
       15. The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the base is annular and is configured to extend around an entirety of the sidewall of the container, and wherein the plurality of modular sections together extend around the entirety of the sidewall of the container. 
     
     
       16. The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of modular sections are releasably connected to the base by releasable connecting structures. 
     
     
       17. The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the base comprises a tubular wrap configured to extend around an entirety of the sidewall of the container and having a height measured between a top peripheral edge and a bottom peripheral edge thereof, wherein the plurality of modular sections have heights that are equal to or less than the height of the base, and the plurality of modular sections all have top and bottom edges that are contiguous with each other around an entire periphery of the base. 
     
     
       18. An accessory for use with a portable container having a bottom and a sidewall extending upward from the bottom to define an internal cavity with a top opening, the accessory comprising:
 a jacket comprising a base configured to extend around at least a portion of the sidewall of the container and a plurality of modular sections formed separately and connected to the base, wherein the plurality of modular sections comprises:
 a first modular section connected to the base and extending around a first portion of the sidewall of the container, the first modular section having a first structural configuration; 
 a second modular section connected to the base and extending around a second portion of the sidewall of the container, the second modular section having a second structural configuration that is different from the first structural configuration; and 
 at least one additional modular section connected to the base and extending around a third portion of the sidewall of the container; and 
 
 a connection member connected to the base and configured to support the base in connection with the container, wherein the base supports the plurality of modular sections; and 
 wherein the plurality of modular sections are arranged such that a left edge of each modular section overlaps or underlaps a right edge of an adjacent one of the modular sections.